“Bear”
Ran into “Bear” on the street in Crestview. He was playing banjo on Main Street in the downtown.
Letters from the Road…
Lisa: OMG, you are still hilarious and put your adventures in such away I feel like I am really missing out.
.......but do you actually have a Blackberry?
Me: Yes, I'm being careful.
Lisa: The girls with no cable has a Blackberry?
Water, cash and a walking stick. Meet Brian.
Brian
Outside Chiefland, FL, Brian was walking, barefoot, in the weeds alongside the road.
Hailing from Massachusetts, Brian carried a simple backpack and a hockey stick for protection. “Got any water?” he asked. I pulled over and filled his 16-ounce Gatorade bottle. Brian was searching for the meaning of life. He was 20-something and talked like he was rich with $200 in aide he received from “Obama.”
In Chiefland there is no beer – sing along with me
The second day in Florida I managed a 103-mile ride from Leesburg to Chiefland. While I like to balance my exercise with cookies and frosting, I normally bribe myself with a beer if I can tackle a century.
It was a challenging ride. Pulling into town I got a flat tire, my water had run out and I struggled to find a place to stay. Eventually settling on a mom-and-pop hotel, I went to Winn-Dixie for dinner and a beer, then found out Chiefland is a dry community, on Sunday’s only. What are the chances?
DeFuniak Springs, Florida – Comfort Zone
My most favorite community so far.
Fabulous historic district in DeFuniak Springs, FL.
Fabulous historic district in DeFuniak Springs, FL.
62 miles
Another church has reached out and I’m staying at World Evangelical Outreach. A man named Charles Davis hailed me over on the street. Davis is an older black man with a silver tooth up front. “Would you be so kind as to let me buy you a Coca Cola?” We went to the hometown grocery and sat on a bench inside the store.
What a great end to the day.
Met a “Sly” Giraffe
This giraffe was in the entrance of the public library in Chipley, FL. Donated by Hollywood actor Sylvester (Sly) Stallone, the giraffe and lion were from his personal collection. Initially on display at Chipley Middle School, the animals were eventually moved to the library due to space needs. The Chipley community has a standing request for Stallone to visit; so far he has not responded.
Not Your Average Fast-Food Chain
Old-timey sign for a restaurant in Leesburg, Florida.
Feelin’ Crabby – Literally
I couldn’t buy the blue crab, so the clerk – Clint – made me hold it.
Nature Coast State Trail
Just off the paved trail, an old railroad that ran parallel to Hwy 27 between Chiefland and Cross City.
Early check-out from church “hotel.” First Assembly of God put me up.
41 miles on Monday
73 miles on Tuesday
Happiness is a Warm Handgun
The Villages, FL – Pulled into Billy’s Cafe in The Villages on Sunday morning. Had about 20 miles in after leaving Leesburg around 6:30 a.m.
My primary goal is 1) newspaper and 2) nutrition; a man sitting alone in the first booth had both.
Inviting myself to sit down, I introduced myself to Colonel Conrad. His Sunday paper was still freshly folded and he seemed a little taken aback that he had an instant breakfast buddy – but, he welcomed me.
First thing he said was, “Wisconsin, huh? You guys just had yourselves quite an election.”
Col. Conrad stayed current and I liked him already.
Dressed in a sleeveless Harley-Davidson t-shirt, square wire-rim glasses and a blurry blue tattoo on his shoulder, Sgt. Conrad spoke with the confidence and directness of a military man.
He spent 30 years in the Army in Vietnam and Korea, had two kids and was getting ready to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary.
“I’ve self-published two books of poetry and I’ve taken the letters my wife wrote me while we were courting in college and I’ve put those in a poem; it’ll be my gift to her,” he said.
Col. Conrad was like Chuck Norris wrapped around a bowl full of kittens and yarn.
Our conversation ran comfortable regarding politics. He talked about the death of his adult son, a body builder who died of a heart attack after experimenting with cocaine, and then Sgt. Conrad asked me if I was traveling with protection.
I told him I traveled with great faith. He looked at me and said in official Army, “That’s NOT what I’m talking about.”
I knew what he was talking about. I told him I had pepper spray and that obviously didn’t cut it.
After breakfast Col. Conrad had me walk to his car and he gave me a gun. (I’m still shocked.)
“Let’s get away from these windows and I’ll show you a couple things,” he said, heading toward the classroom behind the restaurant.
We used a line of newspaper boxes as our desk. Col. Conrad released the clip, then showed me the safety and how to reload. The gun danced easily in his hands.
Then he looked up. “Wish we had a firing range,” said Col. Conrad. “Tell you what – when you’re in a desolate area pull off to the side of the road, walk into the woods, and just fire a couple rounds to get the feel of it.”
Oh my God, I felt so gangster.
“This will make me feel a whole lot better if you take it,” he said. “If you want to return it, that’s fine; otherwise, keep it – I have more.”
And with that I was packin’ heat.
I am not familiar with guns, never toured with one, and had a million questions racing through my mind.
Do I need a permit? How about a safety class? Actually, my primary concern was about accessorizing. I needed a holster and something that would be sleek with my spandex.
Tidbits
– With temperatures in the 90s I’ve been drinking a gallon of water a day.
– Florida is a dedicated retirement community; flea markets open at 6 a.m. There are a lot of billboards for plastic surgery and one that read ‘Buy a house – get a free vehicle.’ (It was a golf cart.)
– A gallon of regular unleaded is about $3.21.